Collapsible flood storage system

ABSTRACT

A collapsible watertight storage system includes a watertight bag, a self-assembling collapsible hoop system, and equipment that keeps said watertight bag from floating. The watertight storage system may provide watertight storage for one or more objects loaded into the bag. The bag may include a vacuum access hole to allow users to remove extra air from the bag for compact storage or to reduce buoyancy, tie-down holes to secure the bag, and a watertight seal. The collapsible hoop system may be expanded inside the bag and may keep the watertight bag distended for loading. The collapsible watertight storage system may be suitable, but not limited to, providing protection from water intrusion, for example, due to leaking roofs, floods, or otherwise elevated water conditions, for objects, such as equipment, appliances, and motor vehicles, that are typically otherwise protected from the environment but where water damage could cause irreparable harm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to flood protection devices and,more particularly, to a collapsible watertight storage system and amethod for protecting objects from water damage during a flood.

Each year millions of dollars worth of equipment, appliances, and motorvehicles, e.g., are unnecessarily damaged by water intrusion due tostorm surge or leaking roofs because it may not be practical and/orpossible to move all possibly affected assets prior to a storm to a safelocation. This is particularly true since floods often occurunexpectedly and leave little or no opportunity to relocate objects,such as equipment, appliances, and motor vehicles.

In many cases, objects that need to be protected from a flood or otherelevated water conditions are located within enclosed structures, suchas a room in a house, a garage, or a shed. Such objects may be placed,time permitting, in flood protection containers well known in the art.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,862 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,105, for example, teacha motor vehicle flood protection apparatus that includes a plasticcontainer having a bottom and a top part. When surrounded byfloodwaters, the container will float with the vehicle carried therein.Such prior art containers need to be assembled prior to use and mayprovide splash protection but may not be watertight. Also, since suchprior art containers float and may not be watertight, the containers maynot perform well in locations where the vertical rise of the containersis limited by the height of a structure or by items stored above theenclosure. Such prior art container may also provide limitedeffectiveness for protection of high-density equipment that could not beeasily floated.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,535, for example, teaches a flood protection devicethat includes a flexible and collapsible container made out of amulti-layer material that includes layers of rubber and canvas, and hastherefore, relatively high manufacturing cost. The container is closedwith a drawstring seal, which may not be a watertight seal. In additionthe container does not provide a means of anchoring the device in place.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,200, for example, teaches a vehicle protectiveenclosure made from a flexible plastic material that includes a top andbottom cover sheet, which is hermetically joined or sealed on threecongruent side edges. The protective enclosure may be sealed afterinsertion of a vehicle to minimize air leakage as floodwaters rise byrolling the open edge of the enclosure over a rigid strip member andthen sealing the rolled-up edge using clamps to maintain the seal.Framework needs to be installed at the opening of the protectiveenclosure or additional individuals must be recruited to hold open theenclosure during insertion of the vehicle into the enclosure.

It is further known in the art, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,862,U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,105, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,200, to anchor orotherwise tether floating protective enclosures or containers tostationary objects to prevent significant change in position with changein direction of flow of the flood waters and, therefore, to prevent thefloating object from being damaged or damaging other objects due to themovement given to it by the flowing floodwaters. Typically, the anchorsor other tethering devices are not used to secure the protectiveenclosures to the ground to prevent floating.

While the prior art flood protection containers may protect an object,such as a motor vehicle, from the floodwaters or other elevated waterconditions, these containers typically consist of a plurality of partsthat need to be assembled. The assembly may not be accomplished withinthe short time period available or may involve more than one person thatmay not be available. Furthermore, prior art flood protection containerstypically float on the floodwaters when loaded and sealed. Even though,the containers may in some cases be secured to a stationary object,complete damage protection for the container and/or surrounding objectsfrom the moving floodwaters may not be achieved.

As can be seen, there is a need for a flood protection device thatincludes only a few parts and that may be assembled, loaded, sealed, andsecured by a single user within a short period of time. Furthermore,there is a need for a flood protection device that is lightweight,inexpensive, reusable, and easily stored.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible watertight storagesystem comprises a watertight bag, a self-assembling collapsible hoopsystem, and equipment that keeps the watertight bag from floating. Thecollapsible hoop system expands inside the watertight bag and keeps thewatertight bag distended.

In another aspect of the present invention, a collapsible flood storagesystem comprises a watertight bag including a single piece flexible andfoldable tube extending from a first end to a second end, a watertightseal integrated into the watertight bag on the inside of the tube at adistance from the second end, a vacuum access hole integrated into thewatertight bag that enables removal of air trapped inside the watertightbag when sealed, a collapsible hoop system including a self-expandingcollapsible spring, equipment that keeps the watertight bag fromfloating including a plurality of tether lines and anchors, and aplurality of weights. The tube has a permanently sealed edge positionedat the first end and an opening positioned at the second end oppositefrom the first end. The seal and the second end form an edge of the tubehaving a width equal to the distance and the edge includes a pluralityof tie-down holes. The vacuum access hole enables removal of air trappedinside the watertight bag when sealed. The spring is expanded to fullsize inside the watertight bag and keeps the tube and the opening of thetube distended, and the spring collapses for storage. The tether linesattach to the tie-down holes of the tube, and attach the watertight bagto the anchors. At least one of the plurality of weights is positionedinside the watertight bag. At least one of the plurality of weightsattaches to the tether lines opposite from the tie-down holes. At leastone object is loaded into the watertight bag through the opening. Thewatertight seal closes the opening, and wherein the watertight bagprovides watertight storage for the object.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for protectingobjects from water damage in elevated water conditions comprises thesteps of: unfolding a flexible watertight bag, distending the bag byexpanding a self-assembling collapsible hoop system inside the bag,loading an object into the bag, sealing the bag with a watertight seal,and anchoring the bag in place.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a collapsible watertight storage systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a collapsible watertight storagesystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a collapsible watertight storage systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a collapsible watertight storage systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart schematically representing a method forprotecting objects from water damage during elevated water conditionsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratingthe general principles of the invention, since the scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, the present invention provides a watertight storage system anda method for protecting objects from water damage during a flood orother elevated water conditions. One embodiment of the present inventionprovides a collapsible watertight storage system that is suitable, butnot limited to, providing protection from water intrusion, for example,due to leaking roofs, floods or otherwise elevated water conditions, forobjects, such as equipment, appliances, and motor vehicles that areotherwise protected from the environment but where water damage couldcause irreparable harm.

In contrast with the prior art, where the flood protection containerstypically include a plurality of parts, the watertight storage system asin one embodiment of the present invention includes a large one-pieceplastic or vinyl bag with an integrated user-closable watertight seal.By using a plastic or vinyl material as in one embodiment of the presentinvention, manufacturing costs may be lowered compared to prior artflood protection containers that are typically manufactured out of moreexpensive material, for example, layers of rubber and canvas.

In further contrast to the prior art, where the vehicle or other objectenclosed in the flood protection container floats together with thecontainer in the floodwaters, the watertight storage system as in oneembodiment of the present invention may include equipment that keeps thewatertight bag from floating. The equipment may include a tarp, weights,tether lines, and anchors to prevent the objects stored in thewatertight bag from floating in the floodwaters or other elevated waterconditions. In one embodiment, the watertight storage system of thepresent invention may include a vacuum access to allow removal of extraair from the inside of the sealed watertight bag for compacter storageand reduced buoyancy.

In a further contrast with the prior art, where framework needs to beassembled and installed at the opening of the flood protection containeror additional individuals must be recruited to hold open the enclosureduring loading, the collapsible watertight storage system as in oneembodiment of the present invention may include lightweight collapsiblehoops that may be positioned inside or at an opening of the watertightbag. Contrary to the prior art, the collapsible hoops may not need to beassembled and can be quickly positioned by a single person.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a top view of a collapsible watertight storagesystem 10 is illustrated according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The watertight storage system 10 may include a bag 11, awatertight seal 12, a vacuum access hole 13, and a plurality of weights14.

The bag 11 may be manufactured as a single piece flexible tube made ofwater impermeable sheeting material, such as plastic or vinyl, and mayextend from a first end 16 to a second end 18. The bag 11 may include apermanently sealed edge 15 at the first end 16 and an opening 17 at asecond end 18 positioned opposite from the first end 16. The permanentlysealed edge 15 may be watertight and airtight. It may further bepossible to manufacture the bag 11 from two rectangular sheets offlexible and water impermeable sheeting material that are joint togetherby permanent water tight seals at three of the four sides of therectangle (not shown). The size of the bag 11 may be chosen according tothe size of an object 20 to be stored inside the bag 11. The object 20may be, for example, a motor vehicle, an appliance, a piece of equipmentor any other object that may be damaged by elevated water condition, forexample, during a flood or due to a leaking roof. More than one object20 may be stored in the watertight bag 11. The bag 11 may be folded foreasy storage when not in use.

The watertight seal 12 may be integrated into the bag 11 on the insideat a distance 19 from the second end 18. The watertight seal 12 may be,for example a zip-lock® type seal. The watertight seal 12 may be closedand opened by a single user 30 (FIG. 3). The seal 12 may resist entranceof water and air once closed. The seal 12 and the second end 18 of thebag 11 may form an edge 26 having a width equal to the distance 19.Distance 19 may be wide enough to allow tie-down holes 21 to beincorporated in edge 26 of the bag 11. The tie-down holes 21 may be usedfor securing a tether line 22 (shown in FIG. 2).

The vacuum access hole 13 may be integrated in the bag 11 and may bepositioned such that a user 30 (FIG. 3) may have easy access to thevacuum access hole 13. A typical household or industrial vacuum cleanerhose may be inserted in the vacuum access hole 13 to remove air trappedinside the bag 11 after closing the watertight seal 12. Removing airfrom the sealed bag 11 may provide for compacter storage and may reducethe buoyancy of the loaded bag 11. More than one vacuum access hole 13may be integrated in the bag 11.

A plurality of weights 14 may be placed inside the bag 11, for example,after the object 20 was loaded into the bag 11. The weights 14 may keepthe loaded bag 11 from floating in the floodwaters or other elevatedwaters. The number of weights 14 used may depend on the weight and sizeof the loaded object 20. Weights 14 may include, for example, sand bagsand iron weights. The weights 14 may have blunt edges. Additionalweights 14 may be attached to the tie-down holes 21 using a tether line22 (as shown in FIG. 2). It may further be possible to place additionalweights 14 from the outside on top of sections of the bag 11 that maynot be needed for providing storage space to secure the bag 11 to theground 25 (FIG. 2). It may further be possible to place the weights 14inside the object 20, for example, if the object 20 is a motorizedvehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective side view of the collapsiblewatertight storage system 10 is illustrated according to an embodimentof the present invention. Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a loaded, sealed, andanchored storage system 10. The watertight storage system 10 may furtherinclude equipment 29 that keeps said watertight bag 11 from floating,which may include a tarp 31 (FIG. 4), weights 14, tether lines 22, andanchors 23. One end of the tether line 22 may be inserted into orattached to a selected tie-down hole 21 (shown in FIG. 1) and the otherend of the tether line 22 may be secured to the ground 25 using ananchor 23. The length of the tether line 22 may be adjustable. Theanchor 23 may have the shape of a spike and may be pushed into theground 25 if the ground 25 is soft. A plurality of anchors 23 may bepreinstalled in the ground 25. The tether line 22 may further beattached to any available stationary object, such as poles orpreinstalled hooks. In addition, it may be possible to use a rectangulartarp 31 (as shown in FIG. 4) that may be positioned over the bag 11 andthat may be anchored to the ground 25 using preinstalled in groundanchors 23 or weights 14. Illustrated in FIG. 4 is a collapsiblewatertight storage system 10 that has been sealed with the watertightseal 12 and is anchored in place using tether lines 22 and the tarp 31.

The collapsible watertight storage system 10 as shown in FIG. 2 mayfurther include a collapsible hoop system 24 that may beself-assembling. The collapsible hoop system 24 may be a self-assemblingcollapsible spring 27 manufactured, for example, as a single piece outof a lightweight metal or plastic. The spring 27 may be collapsed to asmaller size for storage and may be expanded to full size inside thebag. The expanded spring 27 may keep the bag 11 distended and mayprovide easy access through the opening 17 of the bag 11. It may furtherbe possible to expand the spring 27 to full size outside of the bag 11and only then insert the spring 27 into the bag 11. After loading theobject 20 into the bag 11, the spring 27 may be removed from the bag 11or may stay inside the bag as desired by a user 30 (FIG. 3).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of the collapsible watertightstorage system 10 is illustrated according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Illustrated in FIG. 3 is an open storage system 10during loading. As can be seen, the self-assembling collapsible hoopsystem 24 may include a plurality of self-assembling collapsible hoops28 instead of the self-assembling spring 27 (shown in FIG. 2). Each hoop28 may be manufactured, for example, as a single piece out of alightweight metal or plastic. Each hoop 28 may be collapsed for easystorage and may be expanded to full size inside or outside the bag 11.The hoops 28 may be positioned inside the bag 11 as desired by a user30. One hoop 28 (not shown) may be positioned proximate to the secondend 18 of the bag 11 to hold the opening 17 of the bag 11 open duringthe loading of the object 20. This hoop 28 may be removed from the bagprior to closing the seal 12. The bag 11 may include several pairs ofshort Velcro® straps (not shown) attached on the inside that may be usedto hold the hoops 28 in place. The hoops 28 may stay inside the bag 11after loading and during storage of the object 20 or the hoops 28 may beremoved from the bag 11 before the seal 12 is closed. The watertightstorage system 10 may be set-up, loaded, sealed, and secured in place bya single user 30 and within a relatively short time frame.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a flow chart schematically representing amethod 40 for protecting objects 20 from water damage during elevatedwater conditions, such as a flood, is illustrated according to anembodiment of the present invention. The method 40 may involve a step 41where the flexible watertight bag 11 is unfolded and laid out flat onthe ground 25. The collapsible hoop system 24 may have been stored incollapsed condition within the bag 11 and, therefore, may be positionedinside the bag 11 during step 41. If the collapsible hoop system 24 wasnot stored inside the bag 11, then the collapsible hoop system 24 may beplaced inside the bag 11 in collapsed condition in a step 51. A step 42may involve expanding the collapsible hoop system 24 to full size insidethe bag 11. The expanded hoop system 24 may distend the watertight bag11.

In a step 43, an object 20 may then be loaded into the bag 11 throughthe opening 17, which may be held open by the collapsible hoop system24. Weights 14 may be placed inside the object 20 or inside the bag 11in a step 44. A following step 45 may involve removing the collapsiblehoop system 24 from the inside of the bag 11 and collapsing the hoopsystem 24 for storage. If the hoop system 24 will be stored within thebag 11 or if step 45 is not desired for other reasons, then step 45 maybe omitted.

The watertight seal 12 may be closed in a step 46, thereby closing andsealing the opening 17 of the bag 11. In a following step 47, a vacuumcleaner hose may be attached to the vacuum access hole 13 and the airtrapped inside the sealed bag 11 may be removed by operating the vacuumcleaner to reduce the buoyancy and size of the loaded bag 11.

A step 48 may involve anchoring the bag 11 in place by attaching tetherlines 22 to selected or all tie-down holes 21 and by anchoring thetether lines 22 to the ground 25 using anchors 23 or weights 14. Theweights 14 and anchors 23 may prevent the bag 11 loaded with the object20 from floating in floodwaters or other elevated water conditions. In astep 49, a rectangular tarp 31 may be placed over the bag 11 and may beanchored to the ground 25. Steps 44, 47, 48, and 49 may not always benecessary and may be carried out as desired by the user 30 and as neededbased on the expected flood conditions.

After usage during a flood or other elevated water condition, the bag 11may be dried and folded for storage in a step 52. Steps 41 to 52 may becarried out by a single user 30 within a relatively short time frame.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A collapsible watertight storage system, comprising: a watertightbag; a self-assembling collapsible hoop system, wherein said collapsiblehoop system expands inside said watertight bag and keeps said watertightbag distended; and equipment that keeps said watertight bag fromfloating.
 2. The collapsible watertight storage system of claim 1,wherein said watertight bag includes a watertight seal and a vacuumaccess hole, wherein said watertight seal seals said watertight bag, andwherein said vacuum access hole enables removal of air trapped insidesaid watertight bag when sealed.
 3. The collapsible watertight storagesystem of claim 1, wherein at least one object is loaded into saidwatertight bag, and wherein said watertight bag provides watertightstorage for said object.
 4. The collapsible watertight storage system ofclaim 1, wherein said watertight bag includes a single piece flexibletube extending from a first end to a second end, a permanently sealededge positioned at said first end, and an opening positioned at saidsecond end opposite from said first end, wherein said watertight seal ispositioned inside said tube proximate to said second end, and whereinsaid watertight seal closes said opening.
 5. The collapsible watertightstorage system of claim 1, wherein said watertight bag is manufacturedfrom a flexible water impermeable plastic or vinyl sheeting material. 6.The collapsible watertight storage system of claim 1, wherein saidwatertight bag folds for storage, and wherein said collapsible hoopsystem collapses for storage.
 7. The collapsible watertight storagesystem of claim 1, wherein said watertight bag is set-up, loaded,sealed, and secured in place by a single user.
 8. The collapsiblewatertight storage system of claim 1, wherein said equipment that keepssaid watertight bag from floating includes a tarp, weights, tetherlines, and anchors, wherein said tether lines attach said watertight bagand said tarp to said anchors.
 9. The collapsible watertight storagesystem of claim 1, wherein said self-assembling collapsible hoop systemincludes a spring manufactured out of a lightweight material, whereinsaid spring collapses for storage, wherein said spring expands to fullsize and distends said watertight bag and said opening of saidwatertight bag.
 10. The collapsible watertight storage system of claim1, wherein said self-assembling collapsible hoop system includes atleast one hoop, wherein said at least one hoop is positioned inside saidwatertight bag and proximate to said opening, and wherein said at leastone hoop holds said opening open when expanded and collapses forstorage.
 11. A collapsible flood storage system, comprising: awatertight bag including a single piece flexible and foldable tubeextending from a first end to a second end, wherein said tube has apermanently sealed edge positioned at said first end and an openingpositioned at said second end opposite from said first end; a watertightseal integrated into said watertight bag on the inside of said tube at adistance from said second end, wherein said seal and said second endform an edge of said tube having a width equal to said distance, whereinsaid edge includes a plurality of tie-down holes; a vacuum access holeintegrated into said watertight bag, wherein said vacuum access holeenables removal of air trapped inside said watertight bag when sealed; acollapsible hoop system including a self-assembling collapsible spring,wherein said spring is expanded to full size inside said watertight bagand keeps said tube and said opening of said tube distended, and whereinsaid spring collapses for storage; and equipment that keeps saidwatertight bag from floating including a plurality of weights, tetherlines, and anchors, wherein said tether lines attach to said tie-downholes of said tube, and wherein said tether lines attach said watertightbag to said anchors, wherein at least one of said plurality of saidweights is positioned inside said watertight bag, and wherein at leastone of said plurality of said weights attaches to said tether linesopposite from said tie-down holes; wherein at least one object is loadedinto said watertight bag through said opening; and wherein saidwatertight seal closes said opening, and wherein said watertight bagprovides watertight storage for said object.
 12. The collapsible floodstorage system of claim 11, wherein said watertight seal resistsentrance of water and air once closed.
 13. The collapsible flood storagesystem of claim 11, wherein said weights have blunt edges and includesand bags.
 14. The collapsible flood storage system of claim 11, whereinat least one of said plurality of said weights is positioned on top ofsections of said watertight bag.
 15. The collapsible flood storagesystem of claim 11, wherein said equipment that keeps said watertightbag from floating further includes a rectangular tarp, wherein said tarpis positioned over said watertight bag and anchored to the ground. 16.The collapsible flood storage system of claim 11, wherein said spring isremoved from the inside of said watertight bag before said watertightbag is closed.
 17. A method for protecting objects from water damageduring elevated water conditions, comprising the steps of: unfolding aflexible watertight bag; distending said bag by expanding aself-assembling collapsible hoop system inside said bag; loading atleast one object into said bag; sealing said bag with a watertight seal;and anchoring said bag in place.
 18. The method of claim 17, furtherincluding the steps of: placing a plurality of weights inside said bagor inside said at least one object prior to sealing said bag; collapsingand removing said hoop system from said bag prior to sealing said bag;removing air trapped inside said bag after sealing said bag; andanchoring said bag to the ground to keep said bag from floating inelevated water.
 19. The method of claim 17, further including the stepsof: placing a tarp over said bag; and anchoring said tarp in the ground.20. The method of claim 17, further including the steps of: attaching avacuum cleaner hose to a vacuum access hole integrated into said bag;and removing said air from said bag by operating a vacuum cleaner toreduce buoyancy and size of said bag.